Game apparatus



Jan. 12, 1937. D. cfRocKoLA 2,067,244

GAME APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1935 INVENTOR.

H15 ATTORNEYS.

David Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Application April 25, 1935, Serial No. 18,177

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a game apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 in Fig. 2.

A game apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention is shown in the drawing, is therein generally indicated at l0, and comprises a cabinet II which includes an inclined playing a board I2 having a pair of spaced ball exit openings l3 and M formed therein. Slidably mounted in the cabinet I I, below the inclined playing board 12, is a so-called shuille board or ball retaining member l5 which is provided with an opening [5, and this opening 16 is adapted to be moved into registration with the ball exit openings l 3 and I4, by movement of the ball-retaining member l5, so as to discharge balls from the latter to a point below the inclined playing board [2.

Mounted upon the inclined playing board I2 is a convoluted member I! which has an end portion or convolution l8 which projects between the ball exit openings I3 and I4; this member I! being mounted above the inclined playing board I?! by means of suitable supports IS. A rebound spring is mounted upon the convoluted member 11 at one end thereof.

A played ball may enter into the convolutions of the member H, from the inclined playing board l2, by way of the gate or entrance 2|.

The foregoing arrangement is such that when a ball passes through the gate 2| into the convolutions of the member [1, it will, if it has sufficient momentum, travel around the convoluted member I! into the innermost convolution l8 thereof whence it will fall into the ball exit opening M in which it will be temporarily retained by the slidable ball retaining member I 5 until the latter is shifted into ball releasing position, as is well understood in the art.

However, if the ball which passes through the gate 2! has relatively little momentum, and not sufficient momentum to carry it around the convoluted member [1 into the innermost convolution l8 thereof, it will gravitate back into the ball exit opening l3, by reason of the inclination of the board l2.

If a played ball strikes the rebound member 20 it will be reprojected by the latter up the inclined playing board l2.

When a played ball travels around the convolutions of the member I! it moves in a whiplike action which is attractive to the player and adds to his interest in playing the game with which the accessory I! is associated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a game apparatus of the type having a ball playing surface and means for projecting balls thereon, a ball trap comprising a wire-like spiral having an inner and an outer convolution and supported in a plane parallel to said surface at a distance therefrom, the said inner and outer convolutions thereof being adapted to overlie a pair of spaced ball-receiving apertures in the said surface and having a portion of said spiral lying between the said ball apertures, the outermost end of said spiral being provided with a substantially co-extensive resilient buffer.

DAVID C. ROCKOLA. 

